Whatever might happen to the Chittenango girls soccer team once the Section III Class B playoffs get underway, at least it could take comfort in holding bragging rights over its neighbors from Cazenovia.
That was the result of last Wednesday night’s match, where the Bears got more production from Sarah Martin that proved the key to a 3-1 victory over the Lakers.
The only regular-season meeting between Chittenango and Cazenovia carried a bit more meaning because the Bears are coached by former Lakers great Kassie Kleine, adding to the spice of the Madison County clash.
During an active Brenna Hughes’ goal got the Lakers on the board, but Martin answered, and the Bears took the lead for good on a superb goal from freshman Sarah Moon.
From 28 yards out, Moon hit a perfectly-struck free kick into the top center of the net, out of the reach of a jumping Hannah Matteson. With that momentum, Chittenango blanked Cazenovia the rest of the way.
Martin returned to net her 18th goal of the season in the second hag, giving the Bears some insurance. Jessica Shepard got credit for an assist as Ava Dardaris, with 10 saves, matched Matteson’s total.
A tough regular-season finale remained for Chittenango as it visited Marcellus Friday night, and though it got on the board twice, the Bears still lost, 4-2, to the Mustangs.
Taylor Reich’s goal near the midway point of the first half was the only tally for either side. Only trailing 1-0, Chittenango got into trouble when Anna Vetsch scored just 38 seconds into the second half.
Even when Martin scored in the 52nd minute, Reich answered three minutes later, converting a penalty kick. Then Vetsch’s second goal with 17:51 to play made it 4-1, too much to overcome, though Ally Shoemaker did find the net with 7:34 to play.
Cazenovia, meanwhile, hosted Altmar-Parish-Williamstown and had no such problems in an 8-0 romp over the Rebels.
Hughes got Cazenovia started with back-to-back goals. Maddy Gavvit assisted on the second goal and then again on Page Hunt’s tally that made it 3-0.
Gavitt got her turn in the goal-scoring column, making it 5-0 after Katrina Wilson converted. Hunt returned for a second goal following a conversion by Chloe Willard, and Kirsten Underwood converted in the late going.
The Lakers were 10-6 and the Bears were 8-5-2 heading into the sectional tournament. Drawing the no. 9 seed, Cazenovia visits no. 8 seed Skaneateles in Thursday’s opening round, with the winner likely to take on top seed Westhill in the quarterfinals.
Chittenango, meanwhile, got the no. 10 seed and would face its own road test Wednesday when it went north to Adams to face no. 7 seed South Jefferson, the winner advancing to the quarterfinals against Lowville or Mexico.